Entrepreneurial spirit

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Jun 3, 2009 | by Nanci L Valcke

It's said one shouldn't put everything in one basket, but that's just what Irma Graciela Pinnace, owner of Designs Forever, Inc. in Concord has done.

Pinnace designs and creates gift baskets -- with a personal touch and quality materials -- for all occasions.

"If it's not perfect," Pinnace says, "it doesn't go out."

More than a decade ago, she dreamed of having her own business, but hurdle after hurdle -- beginning in San Francisco, winding through Oakland, Vallejo and stopping in Concord -- kept it on hold.

Pinnace, 51, studied marketing and merchandising at San Francisco City College and enrolled in the college's hospitality program for restaurants and fine dining.

"For a couple of years, I wanted to be a pastry chef," recalls Pinnace.

The idea to create specialized gift baskets was hatched while planning her wedding in 1996.

"I decided I could do this," says Pinnace after looking at what was available and not liking anything she saw.

Although she occasionally put together baskets for co-workers, opening and operating Designs Forever, was still only a dream.

In the late 1990s while still living in San Francisco, Pinnace learned of the Women's Initiative for Self Employment and enrolled. But as fate would have it, she faced her first personal hurdle and had to leave San Francisco and the program.

In 2008, she chanced upon a flier about the organization's new offices in Concord. One phone call later she was enrolled in the 11- week program called Simple Steps to Business Success. Clients learn the ABCs of marketing and sales strategy to record keeping and writing a business plan.

Services are offered in both English and Spanish, says client services coordinator Carmen Angulo. After clients graduate, the initiative offers a SuccessLink program, which provides workshops, seminars, networking events, one-on-one consultation and coaching, she says.

The initiative celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, and has served 3,500 women in the Bay Area from five locations, including Concord, downtown Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose and Novato, says Angulo. The organization also administers a revolving loan fund ranging from $500 to $25,000.

Pinnace graduated and opened her business about six months ago, and says she sees her gift basket kiosk as a stepping stone to having a larger place by the end of year.

Pinnace says she designs her baskets as if she were making them for herself.

Pleasant Hill resident Wyvona Smythe raves about her daughter's and son's Easter baskets from Designs Forever.

"They were fabulous," Smythe says. "My daughter's had a glass slipper, like Cinderella had."

She describes the candy necklace that was wound through the slipper and the lunch pail filled with lip gloss and hair Scuncis as well as bubbles and a jump rope.

The boy's basket was just as lavish with a yo-yo, half a dozen pencils attached to the basket handle, racing Matchbox cars, a large, sturdy truck, a big chocolate bunny and bubbles.

"They were very excited," says Smythe. "It was awesome. This is something a grandmother would have given; it's more special than someone just selling something."

In fact, Pinnace is a grandmother of seven that includes triplets. The mother of four and native of Honduras arrived in the United States when she was 8.

Client Gwen Bolyn says, "I sent my mom and her dogs Christmas baskets and they loved them."

Julia Crowe, 69, sent a basket to her 93-year-old father. "They're personal and beautiful baskets."

Although Pinnace designs special baskets for any event, her work is on display and ready for purchase -- with prices from $9.99 to $29.99 -- at her kiosk at 2995 Monument Blvd. in Concord.

Although business is a little slow because of a recent surgery, Pinnace says she's holding on tight to her dream.

"I have had a lot of hurdles," she says, "but my dream is still going strong."Women entrepreneurs-- For more information about Women's Initiative for Self Employment, a nonprofit organization to help low-income women start their own businesses and become economically self-sufficient, visit www.WomensInitiative.org.